Bicycle



(No Model.)

0. SOHMIEDEL.

' BICYCLE.

No. 502,866. Paten-tedg. 48, 1893.

UNITED STATES' "PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR SCHMIEDEL, OF BETHANY, WEST VIRGINIA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 502,866, dated August8, 1893. Application filed September 22, 1892. Serial No. 446,545. (Nomodel.)

T0 au whom it may conccrn:

Be it known that I, OSCAR SCHMIEDEL, of Bethany, in the county of Brookeand State of West Virginia, have invented a new andv useful Improvementin BicyCles, of which the following is a specification."

My invention consists of the improved means hereinafter described andclaimed whereby a bicycle of the safety type may be easilyridden andsteered bauds oi.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a bicyclehaving my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a partial sectional viewon the line ac, of Fig. 1, looking toward the front of the bicycle, andFig. 3 is a view of a modified form of a part of my invention.

A designates thesaddle post et a bicycle which is adjustable as isusual. T0 its rearwardly bout portion (1. is secured so as to beadjustable lengthwise of the bicycle,an clongated U-shaped supportingbar B. This bar is provided at its ends with bearings b, b in which ispivoted the saddle frame 0 which in the present instance is a swingingdrop frame.

The spririg dot the saddleD is monted on the drop frame C between thebearings b, b so that the plane of the saddle when Occpied passessubstantially through the axis of rotation of the drop frame. It willthus be seen that as the bicycle tips to one side or the other, theplane of the saddle stays substantially horizontal, the drop frameswinging in the bearings b, b, thereby keeping the body of the rider ina vertical and natural position.

The arrangement for controlling the steering wheel by means of theswinging of the saddle f1ame is as follows: The drop frame 0 is extendedforwardly from the bearing b to within a short distance of the steeringbar, when its end is pivoted to a suitable bearing 6 on a frame E. Thisf1am6 extends from the steering head of the bicycle to the saddle post.and serves t0 strengthen the machine. The bearing 6 is so constructed asto admit of the rear of the drop frame being adjusted vertically to suitriders of diflerent heights. The

: aVertically swinging link f. Thislinkis pivrear portion of the dropframe C slides within the forward portion of the drop trame as the'snpporting bar Bis adjusted forwardorbackward upon the part 0. of thesaddle post A. The tWo-portions of the drop frame may be securedtorotate together preferablyby means of a set screw 0%.. An arm 0 is adjustably secured to the forward part of the drop frame C by means of aset screw c and has a hall and socket c0nnection at its upper end withoted to a collar or clip f which is rigidly secured to the steering barF.

If desired, instead of the above described oonnection between the dropframe and the steering bar, I may connect the two by suitable bevelgearings G, 9, as shown in Fig. 3.

By the above arrangement the bicycle may easily be steered bauds off, asthe steering wheel may be positively turned in the direction desired bytilting th bicycle toward the new direction to be traveled and threbyausing the drop frame upon which the saddle is located to depend fromthe bicycle frame on that side toward which it is tilted.

The operation is as follows: Let it be supposed that I wish to steer thebicycle to the left. with my hands removed from the handle bar; I wouldplace my weight open my left pedal, which would incline the bicycle inthat direction. As the bicycle tilt toward the left, the drop framewould still keep its vertical position and the saddle thereon itshorizontal position, because of the pivotal connection between the dropframe and the supporting bar B, which supporting bar forms part Of thebicycle frame. This tilting of the bicycle to the left will cause thesteering wheel to turn to the left because of the connection between thedrop frame and steering wheel by means of the arm c, link f, collar orclip f and steering bar F.

This simple and effective construction may be easily attached to thedifferent styles of bicycles now in use and not only enables the riderto steer the bicycle positively with his bauds off, but also adds to hiscase and'comfort, as it enables him to sitin an upright and graceful'position upon the saddle.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in thearrangement and construc- 100 tien of the several parts so as to attachthem to the different styles of bicycles without departing from thespirit and scope of my inventien, but

Vhat I ciaim is 1. In combination, a bicycle frame, a steering wheel, aiarally swingingsaddle fmme suspended from the bicycle frameand aconnection between the steering wheel and the saddle framc, whereby thewheel is operated bythe swnging of thesaid saddleframc,substantialiy asset forth.

2. In combination, a steering wheel, a steming bar connected therewith,a saddle, et laterally swinging drop frame upon which the saddle issecured, the drop frame being extended forwardly and having a connectionWith the steering bar, whereby, as the drop frame is swungit rotates thesteering bar and thereby turns the steering wheel, substantially as setforth.

3. In combnation, a steering wheel a; saddle, a drop frame upon which thsaddle is mounted, a supporting bar in which the drop frame is pivotallysecured, the sadd1e being 30 mounted on 'the drop frame that itshorizontal plane passes substantially th rough the axis of rotation ofthe drop frame, andaconn cation between the drop frame and the steeringwheelwhercby the latter is operated substantially as set forth.

4. In combination, a steering wheel, a, steering bar connectedtherewith, a. collar 01' clip rgidly secured to the steering bar andhaving a vertically swinging 1ink pivoted thereto, a saddle post, asupporting bar secured thereto, a laterally swinging drop frame mountedin bearings in rhe supporting bar, the said drop frame extendingforwardly t0- ward the steering bar and an adjustable mm on the forwardpart of the drop frame hav' in g a bail and socket connection with thesaid vertically swinging lin]; whereby as the drop frame is swung, thesteering wheel is positvely turned, substantially as set forth.

OSCAR SCHMIEDEL.

VVitncsses:

EUGENE FEUCHTINGER, B. T. BLAUPIED.

